Surprise Hamas visit to Ankara elicits reaction in US and EU
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 17, 2006 11:22
Though the US administration has not reacted strongly to the Hamas visit to Ankara, it has stressed to the Turkish government that "the content of the message to Hamas" is the important aspect of the visit. Apparently, the Bush administration expressed some of its "expectations" to Ankara regarding the visit, about which Washington was informed earlier in the week. Speaking about the Hamas visit to Ankara, US Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, had this to say: "The most important thing connected to the Hamas visit it the content of the message relayed to them."
Speaking further about the US-backed message to be given to Hamas, Wilson said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had already affirmed his support for these principles. Wilson also underlined that US concern was mainly that no diplomatic authority stray from consistency in repeating this message to Hamas.
On a different note, there was also some tension from the EU regarding the Hamas visit to Ankara. Last night, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reportedly spoke by phone with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had, on an official visit to Ankara 3 days earlier, warned AKP authorities "not to set up contacts with Hamas now."
On a different note, there was also some tension from the EU regarding the Hamas visit to Ankara. Last night, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reportedly spoke by phone with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had, on an official visit to Ankara 3 days earlier, warned AKP authorities "not to set up contacts with Hamas now."